LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Senior defensive end Brock Hekking was named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team, and Nevada was predicted to finish third in the West Division as the conference opened up its preseason media days event here on Tuesday.
Hekking, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound senior from Vacaville, Calif., is a two-time All-Mountain West honoree. He is seventh among returning players in career sacks with 17.0. Entering his senior season, he ranks eighth (tackles for loss, 24.5) and sixth (sacks, 17.0) on Nevada’s career charts.
He was Nevada’s lone selection on the 2014 Preseason All-Mountain West Team, which was selected by the media. Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton was named the Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year while Fresno State safety Derron Smith won the accolade on the defensive side. New Mexico kick returner Carlos Wiggins is the Preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year.
The preseason poll, which was also voted on by media, saw Boise State as the predicted champion on the Mountain side and Fresno State was the narrow selection over San Diego State on the West side. Nevada was given three first-place votes and was picked third in the West, followed by UNLV, San Jose State and Hawai`i.
Fresno State and San Diego State, which each received 15 first-place votes, will visit Mackay Stadium this year along with Boise State and Colorado State. The Rams are picked third in the Mountain division so four of the predicted top five teams in the conference are on Nevada’s home schedule.
The Mountain West Media Days began Tuesday with the Mountain Division coaches and players meeting with media. The West Division in on tap on Wednesday with second-year Wolf Pack coach Brian Polian joined by Hekking and senior quarterback Cody Fajardo.
Fans can watch portions of the event on the Mountain West Network at www.NevadaWolfPack.TV.
Three-game, mini-plan ticket packages for the upcoming Nevada football season are now on sale, giving fans an opportunity to choose between two different packages.
The silver three-game plan, starting at $63, includes one premium game and two regular games, while the blue three-game plan, starting at $78, includes two premium games and one regular game. This season’s premium games will be the Sept. 5 contest against Washington State and the Oct. 4 game against Mountain West foe Boise State.
Additionally, single game tickets for all Wolf Pack home football games are slated to go on sale Aug. 8. The ticket office reserves the right to delay on sale dates if inventory is limited. Call (775) 348-PACK or visit NevadaWolfPack.com for more information.
2014 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team
Offense
QB          Chuckie Keeton                 Sr.            Utah State
WR          Matt Miller         Sr.            Boise State
WR          Devante Davis**                Sr.            UNLV
RB           Jay Ajayi*             Jr.            Boise State
RB           Donnel Pumphrey           So.           San Diego State
OL           Ty Sambrailo** Sr.            Colorado State
OL           Cody Wichmann                Sr.            Fresno State
OL           LaMar Bratton   Sr.            New Mexico
OL           Brett Boyko**   Sr.            UNLV
OL           Robert Waterman            Sr.            UNLV
TE            Kivon Cartwright              Sr.            Colorado State
Defense
DL           Tyeler Davison**               Sr.            Fresno State
DL           Brock Hekking*                  Sr.            Nevada
DL           B.J. Larsen**       Sr.            Utah State
DL           Eddie Yarbrough*            Jr.            Wyoming
LB            Ejiro Ederaine**                Jr.            Fresno State
LB            Kyler Fackrell**                 Jr.            Utah State
LB            Zach Vigil**        Sr.            Utah State
DB           Donte Deayon**               Jr.            Boise State
DB           Jeremy Ioane**                 Sr.            Boise State
DB           Derron Smith*  Sr.            Fresno State
DB           J.J. Whittaker     Sr.            San Diego State
Specialists
P              Garrett Swanson               Jr.            Fresno State
PK           Jared Roberts* Sr.            Colorado State
Ret.        Carlos Wiggins*                 Jr.            New Mexico
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Chuckie Keeton, Sr., QB, Utah State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Derron Smith, Sr., DB, Fresno State
Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: Carlos Wiggins, Jr., KR, New Mexico
2014 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Rk. Team (first-place votes) Pts.
1.  Boise State (20)       183
2.  Utah State (12)        176
3.  Colorado State (1)     135
4.  Wyoming                 90
5.  New Mexico              56
6.  Air Force               53
WEST DIVISION
Rk. Team (first-place votes) Pts.
1.  Fresno State (15)      174
2.  San Diego State (15)   172
3.  Nevada (3)             130
4.  UNLV                    95
5.  San José State          87
6.    Hawai‘i      35
